COLUMBIA COUNTY, FL – The Lake Shore Hospital
Authority's charter calls for it to furnish temporary
relief to the indigent of Columbia County and collect
millage (taxes) for the purpose of maintenance and
operation of the hospital facilities and provide health
care to the indigent residents of Columbia County. The
Authority floats on a sea of millions of dollars
of public money and is run by Manager, Jackson P.
"Jack" Berry, a Republican operative. The Board has been
appointed by Governor Scott.

On Monday, January 11, 2016, the Board needed to
decide whether purchasing and donating defibrillators to
the Columbia County School District and the County fell
within the realm of its charter.

The Gov's. Authority Board Tackles the AED Issue

On January 11, the Authority agenda, under new
business, stated the following: "Purchase of 12 AED
(Automated External Defibrillators) for use in 11
schools and 1 at County Recreation Department. Cost
$8,093.88."

Manager Berry told the Board (as spoken), "I became
aware in the CHAPs [Community Health Advisory Panel]
meeting last month that there’s eleven elementary
schools that does not have these defibrillators in em’.
The high schools do and the middle schools does, but the
eleven elementary schools does not. The County Health
Department -- the County recreation department doesn’t
have one, either."

Mr. Berry continued, "During the course of the
meeting, I asked Kim [Kim Allison, the Columbia County
School District Health Coordinator] what the cost
would be if subsequently we went and got the cost. And
the cost come out to be about $8000. Last year’s budget
in the public education budget we saved $7998.92 and I
thought that this would be a perfect program to go along
with that and I got with the CPA, Richard Powell, and he
said, 'Yes, we can use those funds for this.' And I got
Kim here tonight if you all have any questions. I think
it would be a perfect program for community
participation."

Board member Tim Murphy was concerned about using the
money out of the "Education" line item.

"Jack, when you spoke with Richard, you sayin' that
he said we could use this money out of that line item?"

Manager Berry paused, "Yes."

Manager Berry had nothing in writing from Richard
Powell and later told the Board that Mr. Powell showed
up at Authority meetings, "When he felt like it."

Mr. Murphy continued, "And it's in the boundaries of
the indigent?"

Mr. Berry, "Yes."

Your reporter pointed out that Mr. Powell was not the
Authority's attorney.

Atny Fred Koberlein was MIA. Atnny Megan Standard sat in
for him.

The Authority Attorney is Fred Koberlein, who
violated his contract and sent a stand-in to the
meeting. The Governor's Board didn't object and the
attorney said Mr. Koberlein was at another meeting.

Health Coordinator Allison told the Board, "We have a
high number of indigent children in this County. That's
why they all get free lunches in elementary school."

Mr. Murphy asked, "History - Why hasn't the school
funded this?"

Ms. Allison answered, "Because it needed money."

Mr. Murphy continued, "Defibrillators is naturally
not a mandatory that's required of the schools?"

School District Health Coordinator, Kim Allison.

Ms. Allison answered, "Not for elementary schools."

There was a long pause, and then Chairwoman Chancy
entered the conversation.

Ms. Chancy asked, "The children in our schools go out
for recess and they run and play -- right?"

Board member Janet Creel added, "We take from the tax
payers to protect their children."

Ms. Allison joined in, "All of us pay taxes as well."

"It Looks Good for the Authority"

The Governor's most recent appointee to the LSHA
Board, Brandon Biel,
opined, "It's a good community outreach -- It looks good
for the Lake Shore Hospital Authority Board to
contribute."

Ms. Chancy again claimed, "It is an outreach program
and it is part of our budget. Outreach is part of our
budget."

Board member Ron Foreman ended the conversation
making two motions, "I make the motion of the purposes
of discussion. I make a motion for the expenditure."

Then Mr. Foreman said, "Am I correct that this has
been reviewed by our certified public accountant and it
is within our guidelines; within our budget; within our
mission statement?"

Mr. Berry responded, "And our attorney."

There was nothing anywhere from Attorney Koberlein.

"Great for exposure."

Mr. Foreman said, "Then I agree with Brandon. This is
great for the Authority to have this kind of exposure."

The motion then passed unanimously

Post-Meeting

Shortly after the conclusion of the Authority
meeting, your reporter bumped into Mike Null, the
longtime purchasing agent for the school district. Mr.
Null has the reputation of being a straight shooter.

Your reporter asked, "What’s the deal with the defibs
in the public school system? The Authority just donated
the money to buy them."

Mr. Null replied, "Those are additional. I guess
they’re adding to the inventory."

Your reporter asked, "There are so many grants
available. Why didn’t the school district every try to
get them? Or did they?"

Mr. Null answered, "I don’t know. I don't know how
that came about."

Your reporter followed up, "There’s so much money
available I just can’t figure out why ..."

Mr. Null interjected, "I’ve never heard a need. I’ve
never heard anybody say, 'We need these for every
school.'"

In the two days before this article was published,
your reporter has not been able to find anyone that can
remember the District's Health Coordinator Allison
asking the School Board, or anyone, to add
defibrillators in the schools that didn't have them.

For the record, Mr. Coppock would only say, "I looked
at it. The cost was prohibitive."

Both Lake City's Fire Chief, Frank Armijo, and
Columbia County's Fire Chief, David Boozer, said no one
ever approached them about providing AED's to the school
district.

Both Chiefs knew that grants were available and
according to the County's former Safety Manager, David
Kraus, AEDs have been obtained though grants by the
County in the past.

Chief Boozer added, "If I knew there was a need I
would have gotten together with who ever could have
gotten the job done. It would have gotten done."

Former Lifeguard Ambulance director Jason Kimbrill
told the Observer that the AEDs need to be registered
with 911.

The County's 911 Director, Thomas Brazil, is an
expert in AED tracking. He told the Observer that no one
has registered any AEDs with 911 dispatch.

Mr. Brazil said, "It's important that we know where
they are. Without this knowledge, it is impossible for
our dispatchers to help callers locate them."

Epilogue

Violating the tenets of its charter and the law are
nothing new for the Lake Shore Hospital Authority and
its Manager, the legendary Jack Berry.

During the interviews for this article it was said
that "Jack Berry radiates that he can give out money."

Many believe it's time to shut down the Lake Shore
Hospital Authority, which has leased its public hospital
to the largest for profit hospital corporation in
America, the almost $19 billion Community Health Systems
(CHS).

LSHA 8 (clockwise from top):
Koby Adams - political operative and Liz Porter's Chief of
staff
Brandon Biel - latest Scott appointee and a young republican
on the move
Dr. Waseem Khan - a board member who
lives out of the county
Janet Creel - real estate broker
Ron Foreman - father of the County Atny
Tim Murphy - a nice guy, talented welder, clueless about
government
Board Chairwoman Lory Chancy - her main job appears to be
not to answer questions and to protect Columbia County's
legendary political operative, Jackson P. "Jack" Berry (in
the middle).